Effect of Peganum Harmala Seeds Extract on Nitric Oxide in U۹۳۷ Monocytes and Macrophages

Background and Aims: Nitric oxide (NO) has an essential role in inflammation and has been related to pathogenesis and the progress of numerous inflammatory-based diseases, including some cancers. Peganum harmala (P. harmala) is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of numerous diseases such as several infections. Also, anti-inflammatory effects of P. harmala extracts and its derivatives (harmaline and harmine) by suppressing myeloperoxidase, NO, and other mediators have been demonstrated in vivo. In this study, the effect of P. harmala seeds aqueous extract on NO production in U۹۳۷ monocytic cells and peritoneal macrophages has been evaluated in vitro. Materials and Methods: U۹۳۷ and mice peritoneal macrophages were cultured in Roswell Park Memorial institute-۱۶۴۰ with ۱۰% fetal calf serum. Then, the cells at the logarithmic growth phase were incubated with different concentrations of aqueous extract of P. harmala seeds (۰.۱-۱ mg/ml) for ۲۴ hours. Next, NO production was assessed by the Griess method in the culture medium. Results: P. harmala seeds aqueous extract did not significantly affect lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in U۹۳۷ cells and peritoneal macrophages after ۲۴ hours incubation time compared with untreated control cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of P. harmala may be mediated through NO-independent mechanism(s). However, further studies are warranted to define the P. harmala aqueous extract impact on NO expression in other related normal and cancerous cells.

Keywords:

Macrophages , Nitric oxide , Peganum harmala , U۹۳۷ , Peganum harmala , nitric oxide , U۹۳۷ , macrophages